Extension car-step.



Patented Feb. I3, I900.

B. E. PINES.

EXTENSION CAR STEP.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.

(No Model.)

By 7 Z 8 'Jll'forge ys,

J7R773Z7 BURKE E. PINES, OF NEVPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,155, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed November 27, 1899. Serial No. '73 8,417. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURKE E. PINES, a citizen of the United States,residingat Newport, in the county of Perry and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Extension Car-Step,0f which thefollowingis a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in car-steps.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofextension car-steps and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive one capable of being readily applied to passenger-coachesand adapted to be readily operated to arrange a step close to the groundor platform and to elevate the same, so that it will be out of the waywhen the car is in motion.

A further object of the invention is to enable the gearing to operate asthe means for retaining the extension-step in its folded or closedposition.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an extension car-stepconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view online 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a detail view illustrating theconstruction of the stops for limiting the downward movement of thesliding frame which carries the extension-step.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates an inclined frame supporting the permanent steps 2 of a carand provided at opposite sides with longitudinal ways 2, consisting ofgrooved bars arranged at the inner or lower face of the inclined frameand receiving side bars 3 of a sliding frame 4, which carries anextension-step 5. The extension-step 5, which is secured toangularlydisposed arms or extensions 6 of the side bars 3 of the slidingframe,is adapted when the sliding frame is elevated, as illustrated inFig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, to be arranged compactly beneaththe lowermost step 2, and

it is capable of being supported at a point below the permanent step 1,as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, in order to bewithin easy reach of the ground or a platform and to obviate thenecessity of providing stools or similar devices for this purpose. Thepermanent steps 2 may be mounted in any suitable manner; but in theaccompanying drawings they are shown secured to bracket-bars 7, havingangular bends to form the riser and horizontal portions.

TheIsliding frame, which is composed of the side bars 3 and transverseconnecting-bars 8, has its downward movement limited by stops 9,consisting of shoulders formed by enlarg ing the upper portions of thegrooves of the bars of the inclined frame, and the side bars 3 of thesliding framehave upper enlarged portions 1 O,forming shoulders toabutagainst the shoulders of the Ways, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 ofthe accompanying drawin gs. By this construction the extension-step isfirmly supported in its operative position, and there is no liability ofits accidentally dropping whensubjecte'd to the weight of a person.

The sliding frame carries a longitudinal rack-bar 11, provided at itsouter face with teeth which mesh with a gear 12, preferablysector-shaped and provided at its outer edge with a weight 13, locatedbeyond the shaft 14. and adapted to maintain the extension-step in anelevated position. The sector-shaped gear is secured to the shaft by anysuitable means, such as a clamping-screw 14 or the like, and the shaftis journaled in suitable bearings 15 of brackets 16, mounted on the barswhich form the ways of the inclined frame. The brackets aresubstantially V- shaped, and the transverse shaft 14 is provided at itsouter end with an arm 17, connected by a link 18 with the lower end of.an operating-lever 19. The arm 17 is provided at its inner end with ahead or enlargement having, an opening to receive the shaft and securedto the same by a clamping-screw 20. The lever is fulcrumed on the frame,and by oscillating its upper portion the sliding frame is reciprocatedto raise and lower the extension-step It will be seen that theextension-step is simple and comparatively inexpensive in con structionand adapted tobe readily applied to cars and that it is capable of readyoperation to extend it for use and to fold it out of the way. It willalso be apparent that the gearing maintains the extension-step in anelevated or folded position and that a secure structure is provided forsupporting the extension-step in its operative position.

That is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the

combination of a supporting-frame having permanent steps and provided atopposite sides with ways located at its rear face, a sliding framemounted in the said ways, an extension-step carried by the slidingframe, a rack-bar mounted on the sliding frame and having its teethdisposed rearward or outward, brackets mounted on the main frame andprojecting rearward beyond the rack, a shaft journaled on the brackets,a Weighted gear-Wheel located in rear of the rack and meshing with thesame and arranged to support the sliding frame in an elevated position,and means for operating the shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a supporting-framehaving permanent steps and provided at opposite sides with ways locatedat its rear face, a sliding frame composed of side bars and transverseconnectingbars, the side bars being arranged in the said ways, arack-bar mounted on the connecting-bars, brackets mounted on thesupporting-frame, a shaft journaled in bearings of the brackets, aweighted gear mounted on the shaft, meshing with the rack-bar andarranged to support the sliding frame in an elevated position, anextension-step carried by the sliding frame, and a lever connected withand operating the shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described comprising a supporting-framehaving permanent steps and provided at opposite sides with ways locatedat its rear face, a sliding frame composed of side bars and transverseconmeeting-bars, the side bars being arranged in the said ways, arack-bar mounted on the connecting-bars, brackets mounted on the sup--porting-frame, a shaft journaled in bearings of the brackets, a weightedgear mounted on the shaft, meshing with the rack-bar and arranged tosupport the sliding frame in an elevated position, an extension-stepcarried by the sliding frame, an arm secured to the shaft, a lever, anda link connecting the arm and the lever, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

BURKE E. PINES.

Witnesses:

WM. WERTI, O. L. BARIS.

